For those of us who would love to attend Singularity University but are unable, Ted Greenwald at Wired is reporting on presentations taking place at the Singularity University Executive program, and it sounds like there has been some fascinating discussion. On the first day, attendees were treated to a presentation on the singularity by none other than Ray Kurzweil. Today, a lesson on advanced nanotechnology from Ralph Merkle:
The notion that nanotech will provide new materials with superior strength-to-weight characteristics or other cool properties is familiar. Eye-opening proposals: Respirocytes (carry oxygen in the bloodstream so you can hold your breath for an hour), microbivores (eliminate diseases more rapidly than they body’s own system), chromallocytes (removes chromosomes in a cell and replaces them with a new set). Finally, Merkle sketches out a single-stage-to-orbit vehicle made of specific (theoretical) nanomaterials that apparently has been designed by someone in a published paper, name and title I didn’t catch. Bottom line: It could transport four passengers into space for a few thousand dollars.
If you’re on Twitter, follow along with discussion about “Singularity U” with the hashtag #singularityu.